Lt. Col. Charles Logan Kessie, Ret. Longtime Canadian attorney Charles Logan Kessie passed away in Georgetown, Texas, on June 16, 2024, at the age of 77.
Funeral services will be held at Canadian Methodist Church, Friday, August 9, 10:30 AM. Graveside services to follow at Edith Ford Memorial Cemetery.
Visitation will be held Thursday, August 8, from 4 to 6:30 PM, at Carmichael-Whatley Funeral Directors of Canadian.
Charles was born to Lovilla Clay Kessie and W.A. Kessie, Jr., in Canadian.
A 1965 graduate of Canadian High School, he married Janie Lynn Jackson, on August 24, 1968. He graduated from Texas A&M as an honored member of his 1969 Class, the Corps of Cadets, and the Fightin’ Texas Aggie Band.
He and Janie had two daughters, Christina Grace, on December 8, 1970, and Elizabeth Jane, on August 3, 1976.
Charles had both distinguished military and legal careers. He completed a total of 28 years of active and reserve duty in the U.S. Army, retiring in 1998 at the rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
In 1979, he began his civilian law practice in Canadian, with his father-in-law, William J. Jackson. He served as Hemphill County Attorney from 1985 to 2000 then continued to practice civil and criminal law until 2019. He was honored in 2016 by The State Bar of Texas with the prestigious Frank J. Scurlock Award for performing exceptional work in the field of legal services to the poor in civil matters.
A lifelong volunteer and church member, Charles was the epitome of a servant leader. He served in many elected and volunteer capacities with the Canadian Rotary Club, the Canadian Masonic Lodge, and the American Legion Post 56.
Charles was preceded in death by his parents, grandson Edwin Logan Barritt, and sister-in-law Diane Jackson.
He is survived by his wife, Janie, of Georgetown, daughters Christina (Robert) Barritt of Lubbock and Elizabeth (Clint) Junell of Hickory Creek, grandchildren Samuel, Abigail, Brock, Kolbi, and Korbin, and brother The Reverend John Paul (The Reverend Linda) Kessie of Bastrop.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be sent to the Texas A&M Foundation, 401 George Bush Drive, College Station, Texas 77840. Please designate the Janie L. and Charles L. Kessie, ’69 Memorial Corps of Cadets Scholarship in the memo line of the check. Or donate online at txamfoundation.com/give. Other suggested recipients are: High Plains Public Radio; Rotary international Polio Plus; Shriner’s Children’s; The Canadian Ex-student Scholarship Fund; or the library of your choice.
Please sign the online registry at www.carmichael-whatley.com
